Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 09:42:24 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Return of a Real Dark Knight 49 Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There are two celebrities who will appear from time-to-time. The other characters are fictitious. Any similarities to persons living or dead are completely coincidental. In this story, I have continued the adventures of Batman, my Batman, which his story first began in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight" in the Boy Band section of this archive. It spanned 250 chapters. You will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. I do hope that you enjoy it!!! Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 49 Trip The day I returned home, I received a telephone call from the Watchers' Council. They thought it might be a good idea if the kids were to go and train with them for a month or so. Preston loved the idea. He had wanted to get his hands on the books only the Council had in their library. His thirst for knowledge would be satisfied with the Council. Jessica offered to escort them to London. She, Justin, and Randy were planning a trip anyway. Especially after all that happened with Randy and myself. Jessica and Justin thought it best to get some distance between us. And she thought it would be safe if they went with her. Lance immediately told her of course. He seemed a little too eager to do so. I figured something must be up, but that was okay. I thought it would be a good idea, too. Lance and I needed to spend some time alone to rekindle that which was lost when he...no need to go there. You already know what happened. Once on their way, I visited the team at the Center and spoke with them about all that had happened. They were gracious in that they wanted Joseph to join the group as Batman despite all the trouble and turmoil that surrounded him over the past few weeks. They understood it wasn't his fault, per se, in attacking us. He was misguided due to the cunning and manipulation of the vampire. Given time, he would be welcomed fully into the team. The group told me of their ability to work as a whole team and as smaller strike teams when they aided in getting me out of the clutches of Catman. They hoped to continue working as a team and told me they decided on a name for their self. "And what might that be?" I asked. "Each of us has a sense of right and wrong," Clark explained. "We know there are certain universal truths for everyone: freedom, equality, and justice. Certain groups within this country, and this world, don't believe in these truths. We believe we can help protect the world from tyrants who would usurp the rights of others. Because we believe in justice, and we believe our ranks should be open and without limit, we've decided on the name Justice League." `Clark would easily be a leader for this group. The way he spoke, the emotions he conveyed in his words brought a sense of power, command, and presence. He was the spitting image of America and the American ideal. He was tall, dark, handsome, from the Midwest, and brought the "American dream" into a reality. He was the face of America. `But he also embodied the hopes and dreams and aspirations of what America could be. He did not hate anyone for being different. Because of his otherworldly origins, he recognized the need for America to be tolerant and accepting of others. He truly was ideal.' My eyes filled with tears and Ella asked, "What's wrong, doctor?" "All my life I've seen groups of minorities fighting hard for their rights. Women, African-Americans, gays and lesbians, and the members of these groups were the minority. It wasn't until much later in their movements did allies step up to bat for us. Men, whites, and heterosexuals all took their places beside us to fight for civil rights. But it was those who suffered and were discriminated against which formed the groups. "To see you, a group of teenagers, form this group and create a name and goal that would step outside your comfort zone is amazing. I know some of you are different and, in a sense, part of a minority group. But all of you can fit in unnoticed. If my life had a purpose, a meaning, this group would be the culmination of that purpose. To form a group of individuals who have nothing in common and yet will fight for the common good. You make me proud. I'm glad to call you friends." Barry ran up and hugged me, as did the others. Later in the day, I was looking through computer files attempting to gather all the information I could about Joseph. It might come to Lance and I adopting him, or, at the very least, becoming his legal guardians, I needed his personal information to do so. What I found was...nothing. His information had been completely erased. Somebody somehow got into the government's database and erased his existence. There was no social security number, no birth certificate, and no indication whatsoever that he was ever born. `I wonder what happened and where his information is.' Across space at the far end of the universe rested a planet visible to all in the solar system due to the pockets of flames shooting from large holes in the planet. If one were to journey to this planet, he or she would believe it to be a living hell. Beings were used as slave labor, to what end, though, nobody knew. An elderly woman wearing yellow and black leather and hefting a whip worked in her laboratory. In the shadows behind her glowing red eyes could be seen. There was slight movement as the being crossed his arms. "How is it coming along, Granny?" The being's bass voice penetrated deep into the heart of the woman. "It is nearly ready." "Excellent." "We've worked long and hard since finding this creature in the lab on the primitive world," the older woman stated. "But we've discovered what it could do. It was planned to be a soldier of sorts. Its powers are nearly god-like." "So you've said." "The flaw it contained has been repaired, as well, so there is no fear that it will fail. For a test, I thought it best to return it to the lab in which we found it. Allow it to gain its identity and discover what it could do. Let it go under its own recognizance. It may prove interesting." "As always, Granny Goodness, you plan well. Has Kalibak returned from New Genesis?" "Yes, my lord. He is awaiting you in your throne room." "Inform me when the soldier is ready to be sent." "Yes, my lord." As the being walked through the door, his large shape was silhouetted by the light outside. He stood over seven feet tall and was very muscular. He disappeared around the corner and Granny went back to her work. After a few more calculations, the doors to a large glass cylinder in the back opened. A bare foot stepped out and a humanoid figure emerged. "Good morning," Granny greeted. She had studied the culture and language of the planet from which this specimen came so that she could better equip it to deal with that environment. "How did you sleep?" "Well, Granny," the being replied. "I'm so happy to hear that. Your clothes are over there. Please dress and meet me in the arena. We're going to test your reflexes today. Afterwards, you will have your morning meal." "Thank you, Granny." The being walked over to a shelf and grabbed a gray jumpsuit, which he easily pulled on. Then he went outside and hopped on a floating disc which carried him several buildings away to the arena. He never stopped marveling at his surroundings. His home belayed power and discipline, something he has always known. The disk arrived at the arena and set down. He climbed off and went inside. AS the male humanoid entered the arena, before him stood several of Granny's warriors: Lashina, Gilotina, Mad Harriet, and Stompa. He knew these women well and their abilities were far beyond any he had seen before. He spent his time training with them. "Choose your weapon, child," Granny announced to him. He walked over to the weapons rack and picked a weapon he enjoyed using all the time. It was a metal quarterstaff. He stepped to the circle in the center of the arena and the four women surrounded him. Lashina pulled out one of her whips and twirled it in the air. She sent it flying toward the man but he was ready. Using his quarterstaff, the whip wrapped around the end of it. He then pulled on it, pulling the woman offer her feet. He swung her around and tossed her into Stompa, the largest of the women. The force knocked both of them over. Mad Harriet jumped at him with her claws slashing. He used the staff to block her attacks. Then, as he blocked, he spun the staff around and hit her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious. Gilotina pulled out her swords and started attacking. The man blocked her attacks and side-stepped as she attempted to slice him in half from head to toe. He brought the staff up and hit her in the stomach. He swung the staff around to hit her in the back, but she rolled forward on the ground dodging his attack. As she brought her legs over, she kicked him in the face and caused him to fall backwards onto his back. Gilotina quickly jumped on him and put her sword to his throat. "You are a worthy opponent," she whispered. "You would make a fine trophy." "You do nothing for me," he replied. He brought the staff around between him and Gilotina and pushed her off. As she tried to come at him again, he kicked her backwards. Then, flipping to his feet, he readied for her next attack, which came. She ran at him with her swords swishing through the air. He positioned his staff just right and, as she neared, jabbed it into her stomach and used it to catapult her into the air. She landed on her counterparts with a thud. "Well done!" Granny clapped. "Well done!" A few hours later, the male humanoid stood before Granny and their master. "You are to be sent back to your home world to discover who you are," his master stated. "You can contact me any time through this." Granny handed the male a small device. "You can travel throughout the planet and to Apokolips any time you wish." "Thank you, Master." "You're welcome...son." The male was dressed all in black with a black cloak shrouding his face. It also covered his utility belt which held weapons of various size and abilities. His weapon of choice, a short metal rod, hung on his belt. He turned away from his family, the only one he had ever known, and pressed the button on the device. With a loud boom, a tunnel of light opened before him. He stepped up into it and walked through. In an abandoned cave somewhere in China, a loud boom broke through the silence. The dark figure emerged from the tunnel and stepped down into a cavern that was in shambles. The cavern appeared to be more fashioned than natural. He walked forward to the door at the end of the hall and entered to find a laboratory smashed to pieces. He looked at the mechanical apparatus and pressed a button which he knew would activate it. The machine whirred and the screen blinked on. The image was that of one Dr. Eric McCoy, a face he was all too familiar with. He had been coming here for the past few months gathering information about him, as well as many others on this planet. He quickly became familiar with the languages, dialects, and customs of the many cultures on this world. He had developed a hatred for the man whose face was illuminated on the screen. The man was the central reason to his purpose on this planet. "In time we will meet, Dr. McCoy. And that meeting will be your last." To Be Concluded... I thought of introducing the next storyline at the end of this story. Part of what will be happening in "Fall of a Real Dark Knight" will come from the end of this chapter and the end of the next. I hope you have enjoyed this run. Please, let me know what you thought of this storyline. What were its strong points? What was its weakest? Did you like certain aspects or characters? What would you like to see happen in future storylines? I have a few more generated in my head. As to whether or not they get written will depend on time, ability, and whether or not you, the reader, would like it to continue.